An Oregon House committee voted unanimously today to prohibit minors under 18 from using salon tanning beds.

Several legislators said they didn't like the nanny-state nature of House Bill 2896, but decided that the health risks were too great to ignore.

Medical experts testified earlier this week that adolescent girls were particularly at risk of developing skin cancer, given the social pressures to visit salons. They said that exposure to UV light at a young age increases the chances of melanoma.

"To me, this is similar to smoking and sometimes when we're kids, we don't know what we're doing to ourselves," said Rep. Jim Weidner, R-Yamhill.

Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, said he was skeptical of the bill – until he heard from the tanning industry representative.

Joseph Levy, who spoke on behalf of the International Smart Tan Network, said the causal link between UV and cancer is not as clear cut as medical professionals claim.